BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

How does one respond to Jesus? Some leave everything familiar to follow him into something new. Others meet Jesus and walk away confused. Some get hostile. Today’s reading asks us to ponder the same question for ourselves by illustrating some interesting responses to Jesus’ ministry.

The crowds often react positively to Jesus’ work and wonder if he might be the Son of David. Jesus’ family and John the Baptist see the same work and ultimately respond with relative neutrality, even confusion. John witnesses Jesus’ unique baptism and hears God’s booming voice affirm Jesus from the skies. But Jesus doesn’t go on to accomplish the military victory John likely expected. So John wants to know: “Are you actually the real Messiah? Who are you?”

As usual, Jesus answers indirectly. He describes his ministry with words from Isaiah (cf. Isa. 29:18-19, 35:5-6, 61:1), who spoke of God’s saving king as a restoring, loving healer. Jesus might not be the warrior king many, including John, had hoped for. But he is God’s saving king described in the Hebrew Bible.

Jesus defeats not human enemies but the enemies of humanity by healing illness and injury, reversing death, and bringing good news to the poor.

Reflection Questions

• In Matthew 12:7, Jesus quotes the prophet Hosea, saying, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Where else in Matthew has Jesus quoted this phrase? Do you see any connections between these stories?
• In Jesus’ day, people argued fiercely about what kind of activity was permitted and prohibited on the Sabbath. What answer does Jesus suggest in Matthew 12:1-13? How does he connect this way of thinking to the Hebrew Bible?